1983 New England Patriots season

The 1983 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League and 24th overall. The Patriots played inconsistently all season, but at 8–7 had a chance for a playoff spot with a win in their final game of the season in Seattle. The Patriots would have problems with turnovers as rookie quarterback Tony Eason was swallowed up in a 24–6 loss to the Seahawks.

1983 New England Patriots season
Head coach	Ron Meyer
General manager	Patrick Sullivan
Owner	Billy Sullivan
Home field	Sullivan Stadium
Results
Record	8–8
Division place	T-2nd AFC East
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	P Rich Camarillo CB Raymond Clayborn RB Tony Collins G John Hannah T Brian Holloway
AP All-Pros	G John Hannah (1st team) P Rich Camarillo (2nd team)

In the first week of December, in shocking conditions with sleet and snow,[1] the Patriots’ game with wild card contender New Orleans Saints saw just one score set up by Ricky Smith returning the Saints’ initial kickoff to the 3-yard line. As of 2017, this game remains the most recent 7–0 result in NFL history,[2] with only two games since seeing just one score,[3] both a single field goal.[note 1]

Staff

New England Patriots 1983 staff
Front Office President – Billy Sullivan Executive Vice President – Chuck Sullivan Vice President – Bucko Kilroy General Manager – Patrick Sullivan Director of Player Development – Dick Steinberg Director of College Scouting – Joe Mendes Director of Pro Scouting – Bill McPeak Head Coaches Head Coach – Ron Meyer Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Lew Erber Offensive Backfield – Cleve Bryant Receivers – Steve Endicott Offensive Line – Bill Muir			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator – Rod Rust Linebackers – Tommy Brasher Linebackers – Steve Sidwell Defensive Backs – Steve Walters Special Teams Coaches Special Teams/Tight Ends – Dante Scarnecchia Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning – LeBaron Caruthers

Roster

1983 New England Patriots roster

	Quarterbacks 11 Tony Eason 14 Steve Grogan 19 Mike Kerrigan Running backs 33 Tony Collins 34 Mark van Eeghen FB 30 Mosi Tatupu 24 Robert Weathers 35 George Peoples Wide receivers 83 Cedric Jones 86 Stanley Morgan 82 Clarence Weathers 81 Stephen Starring 48 Darryal Wilson Tight ends 87 Lin Dawson 80 Brooks Williams 80 Don Hasselbeck 88 Derrick Ramsey		Offensive linemen 58 Pete Brock C 78 Art Kuehn C 75 Bob Cryder T 73 John Hannah G 76 Brian Holloway T 62 Dwight Wheeler T 60 Ron Wooten G 67 Steve Moore T 68 Darryl Haley T Defensive linemen 85 Julius Adams DE 77 Kenneth Sims DE 78 Marshall Harris NT 78 Ron Spears DE 65 Doug Rogers DE 72 Lester Williams DT 70 Luther Henson NT 74 Dave Browning DE 98 Dennis Owens NT 90 Toby Williams DE		Linebackers 55 Don Blackmon OLB 50 Larry McGrew ILB 57 Steve Nelson ILB 56 Andre Tippett OLB 53 Clayton Weishuhn 51 Brian Ingram 52 Johnny Rembert ILB 54 John Gillen 59 Tim Golden 95 Ed Reynolds ILB Defensive backs 26 Raymond Clayborn CB 38 Roland James SS 22 Keith Lee CB 42 Ronnie Lippett CB 31 Fred Marion FS 24 Rick Sanford FS 27 Ricky Smith CB 47 Paul Dombroski DB Special teams 3 Rich Camarillo P 1 John Smith K 2 Joaquin Zendejas K 5 Fred Steinfort K		Reserve lists Practice squad Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 4, 1983	Baltimore Colts	L 29–23	45,526
2	September 11, 1983	at Miami Dolphins	L 34–24	59,343
3	September 18, 1983	New York Jets	W 23–13	43,182
4	September 25, 1983	at Pittsburgh Steelers	W 28–23	58,282
5	October 2, 1983	San Francisco 49ers	L 33–13	54,293
6	October 9, 1983	at Baltimore Colts	L 12–7	35,618
7	October 16, 1983	San Diego Chargers	W 37–21	59,016
8	October 23, 1983	at Buffalo Bills	W 31–0	60,424
9	October 30, 1983	at Atlanta Falcons	L 24–13	47,546
10	November 6, 1983	Buffalo Bills	W 21–7	42,604
11	November 13, 1983	Miami Dolphins	W 17–6	60,771
12	November 20, 1983	Cleveland Browns	L 30–0	40,987
13	November 27, 1983	at New York Jets	L 26–3	48,620
14	December 4, 1983	New Orleans Saints	W 7–0	24,579
15	December 11, 1983	at Los Angeles Rams	W 21–7	46,503
16	December 18, 1983	at Seattle Seahawks	L 24–6	59,688

Standings

AFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Miami Dolphins^(2)	12	4	0	.750	6–2	9–3	389	250	W5
New England Patriots	8	8	0	.500	4–4	6–6	274	289	L1
Buffalo Bills	8	8	0	.500	4–4	7–5	283	351	L2
Baltimore Colts	7	9	0	.438	3–5	5–9	264	354	W1
New York Jets	7	9	0	.438	3–5	4–8	313	331	L2

Notes

1. These 3–0 scores occurred in 1993 when the Jets defeated the Redskins and in 2007 when the Steelers defeated the Dolphins.

References

1. ‘Kickoff Return Practices Pay Off as Patriots Slip Past Saints 7–0’; St. Petersburg Times, December 5, 1983, p. 5C
2. Pro Football Reference; Games with Final Score 7–0
3. Pro Football Reference; Games with Final Score 3–0

See also

• New England Patriots seasons